As I was looking around for inspiration for my upcycle project my attention focused on my golfclubs in the corner of my room. Not only did I want to make something creative but also something I could use and not just put in a corner for the rest of my life. That being said, I decided to create a golf club headcover made out of old socks. Not only is it already common to see headcovers be in the style of a sock as they go over a foot like object, but many of them are plaid or look like something your grandpa would wear, and since there are probably a ton of those out there in Goodwills, I thought it would be fitting to make my own.
(1) Example of headcover from Pinterest
The aesthetic I would be going for is a mix of two. On one hand I think it would be cool to stick with that old style of clothing and use a lot of neutral colors and shapes, but I also want to incorporate a mass media type vibe by placing logos of my favorite brands all around the headcover. It would be similar to how a skater or skier puts a ton of stickers on their helmet or board. This would mix two opposite genres and potentially be a cool crossover.
(2) Example of a ski helmet with stickers
One of the main aspects of this design to focus on is the color pallet. Not only do I not like staring at a ton of colors just thrown together with no rhyme or reason I’d prefer there be some thought behind it and not make it move too far away from the original “old English” aesthetic and those colors. So, what is old English? To me it screams plaid/neutral colors, overlapping patterns, and a clean design. Not as in I need to wash this a lot to keep the aesthetic, but more like not messy. When I think of my design, I want it to emulate old golf culture too, to bring out the aesthetic even more. For example, back then there were no public courses limiting the player base to only the top 1% thus making the aesthetic be more pretentious and put together. You can see what I mean by looking at the image below.
(3) Old English golf aesthetic
However, there are already golf club headcovers that are very similar to what I have been describing. So, to put my own spin on it I thought it would be a good idea to also bring in a skater/skier aesthetic and put a bunch of logos of my favorite teams and brands. Originally this came to mind as my old White Sox hat was sitting right next to my clubs and since this is an upcycle project, I wanted to use old things I never use anymore. Along with this I wanted to incorporate some old craftsman techniques and design choices that fit with the old English design and don’t have it end at the sock. This could include adding some leather or buttons to make it seems older. I’m excited to start and will be drawing my vision shortly. Stay tuned!
Citations:
Featured image:https://www.walmart.com/ip/Golf-Club-Knit-Head-Cover-3pcs-Headcover-Set-Vintange-Pom-Pom-Sock-Covers-1-3-5-Green-Black/102898673 Author: Walmart
Picture (1): https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/360288038917969808/ Author: Ebay
Picture (2): https://www.newschoolers.com/forum/thread/795081/Ski-Snowboard-Helmets—Stickers-or-not- Author: Steezy_Doge 2015
Picture (3): https://www.pinterest.com/pin/155796468333221832/ Author: Unknown
2 Comments. Leave new
Your idea to blend the traditional English golf aesthetic with a modern, skater-inspired vibe is really creative. I think it’s a good and new take on something that feels outdated but has historical value. I like how you’re thinking about not just the visual design but also how the item will be functional and meaningful to you. The focus on color and maintaining a sleek look shows you’ve put thought into balancing these two contrasting styles.
One suggestion I have is to think about how you’ll make sure the skater/skier logos don’t overpower the old English aesthetic, if that is something that you are trying to achieve. Maybe selecting ones that complement the neutral tones could help maintain that balance. I think adding the leather and buttons would tie the two styles together making the design feel more intentional.
Hey Jack, I love this idea and it is awesome that you will be actually make use of the product! The use case and the upcycled material are both available to so many people, so I hope this catches on. The “Old English” aesthetic being fused with a new-age skater mood is honestly genius and I can’t wait to see the product.
In you post, you outlined the inspiration and aesthetic well, and it has me curious about further modifications you might make to your upcycle material. Do you think the fabric could benefit in this new use case by some kind of additive, coating, pleating, etc.? This seems like the kind of product you could enjoy using for ages, so I am curious what kind of obstacles or improvements you have on your mind.
Thanks!